Samsung Galaxy S3 Garnet Red Pre-order Begins, More Colors Expected

The Korean tech giants are flying high with their flagship mobile device for 2012, the Samsung Galaxy S3, making waves in the smartphone market. What's more, you can now add a touch of color to the vanilla life with Samsung's exclusive Garnet Red edition of the Galaxy S3. With this latest announcement, the company is hoping to garner more popularity and is definitely making the right marketing moves.

According to a report by PocketLint, US Network Operator AT&T has already started taking pre-orders for an exclusive red-colored (named Garnet Red) version of the smartphone from July 15, which is expected to ship July 29 onwards. Presently, Samsung also offers the Galaxy S3 in Marble White and Pebble Blue, which is a departure from the boring black of the Galaxy S2. The red version will cost the same as the white and blue models and a two-year contract for the 16GB model costs $199, while the 32GB smartphone costs $249.

AT&T hopes to boost sales and their smartphone market share with this "exclusive" in their kitty. In an official statement, senior VP for AT&T mobility Jeff Bradley said "With an exclusive red color this summer and the power of the nation's largest 4G network, AT&T delivers the best wireless experience for Galaxy SIII fans".

However, the special edition is currently not available in the UK. The Samsung UK spokesperson said that "we will be announcing potential color variants in due course". Samsung has hinted that a wider array of colors for the smartphone is expected in the future.

Popherald speculated that the new color variants may be an attempt on Samsung's part to lure more customers. PocketLint conjectured that Samsung, in keeping with its current naming conventions, may launch versions such as Emerald Green or Azurite Orange.

With its massive 4.8-inch Super Amoled display, 2GB RAM, an Ice Cream Sandwich OS, and an 8-megapixel back-facing camera to boot, the Samsung Galaxy S3 is already a winner. The availability of different hues only adds to the Galaxy S3's appeal and market value. The announcement of a Samsung Approved For Enterprise (SAFE) edition, which is designed for "bring your own device" policies in the workplace is yet another step by the company to up the ante and pip its competition.

The clarion call for Apple with its August-September iPhone 5 launch is not far away. Samsung is only well aware that it needs to up its game plan a few notches to give its arch rival some stiff competition. Whether Samsung can retain its stronghold in the smartphone market with the arrival of the iPhone 5 remains to be seen. Its bag of tricks has been opened, but the question is can Samsung pull out more rabbits?!